Kaleidoscopic top.



Nn.- 668,608. Patented Feb. I9, |90l. G. A. WHEELER.

KALEIDOSCUPIG TDP.

f (Application Sled Aug'. 31, 1900.) (No Model.) e

mi: mams pneus co.. Puo-murio.. wnlnnrn, n. c.

ENCE.

VETENT GEORGE A. WHEELER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KALEIDOSCOPIC TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,608, dated February 19, 1901. Application iled August 31| 1900. Serial No. 28,670. (No model-l To all whom, it muy concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of NewYork, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ohromatic or Kaleidoscopic Tops, of which the followingis aspeciiication.

The device or toy of this invention comprises a spinning-top, centrally-perforated disks, preferably of thin stiff paper, having designs in colors upon their faces and loosely fitting over the spindle of the top, to be rotated at varying speeds and in varying positions or angles by frictional contact, which may be regulated at will with the spindle of the top or some part rotated'therewith. By a proper manipulation of the disks very pleasing and interesting effects may be produced.

Preferably I construct a top with a spindle having a pointed end upon which it rotates and a body or disk of metal rigidly attached to the spindle and formed with an upwardlyextending tapering hub to receive the spinning-cord. The varying frictional contact between the colored disks may be most conveniently obtained by providing the disk with a friction-ring applied around its central opening. Experience has demonstrated that the friction-ring .so applied to the disk kis most eective when made of rubber, although', of course, other materials might be used.

This is a more satisfactory and convenientway of producing the desired effect than facing the hub of the top with some suitable friction material and merely making the disks around the opening therein of sufficient stiffness.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section illustrating the invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view.

The spindle a is pointed at its lower end, so as to rotate Vupon a saucer or other suitable base, and around it the body b of the top may be cast and may be, for instance, of lead, the spindle being notched at c, so as to form an interlocking joint. Preferablyl form the hub d of the top integral with the body and give it a taper, substantially as shown or otherwise, and provide it at the top with a ange e to retain the spinning-cord.

j' is a hollow handpiece tting over the upper end of the spindle to be used, as is well understood in spinning the top.

The colored disks g have upon their faces any desired or suitable design, and around the central opening therein is applied a friction-ring h, which is preferably of rubber, the diameter of the ring being greater than ythat of the hub or of that part of the hub with which it is to coperate. If the disks are allowed to lie upon the flat upper surface of the tops body, they could not be so well manipulated to produce the effects sought, and therefore l provide a surface of small area around the hub of the top upon which the disks may rest. This support may be most conveniently and for many reasons most satisfactorily a light ferrule of metal t, which may be dropped over the hub while the top is rotating and has a horizontal iiauge k at its upper edge, which forms a support for the disk. When an impulse of rotation has Vbeen imparted to the top, the sleeve or ferrule c' may be dropped into position and the colored disk then slipped over the spindle and hub. The disk is preferably of larger diameter than the body of the top, so that its outer edge may be conveniently manipulated by the thumb and foreiinger to vary the angle of the disk and cause its frictional engagement with the rotating hub and also to raise and lower the disk, so that it will engage parts'of the hub of dierent diameters and therefore haveV different speeds of rotation. In this way beautiful kaleidoscopic effects are produced.

I may of course provide with the top disks having various designs upon their faces, and I may also provide plain disks, upon which designs in water-color or crayon may be drawn at will.

' I have illustrated my invention in the form which I have demonstrated by practice to be practical and capable of producing the desired color effects in a most eective manner. Changes may, however, no doubt be made without departing from the principle of my invention. Of course The designs upon the disks may be in black and white effect or black and white combined With colors or of IOO any character to produce upon the eye varying changes in form and direction of motion while the disk is being rotated.

I claim as my inventionl. A kaleidoscopic device comprising a rotative top having a tapered hub and a disk adapted to be placed loosely around the hub and to be driven at varying speeds and angles by frictional contact therewith.

2. A kaleidoscopic device comprising a rotative top having a hub, a support, as 7c, disposed around the hub and a disk adapted to be placed loosely around the hub and upon said support and to be driven at different speeds and angles by varying frictional contact with the hub.

3. A kaleidoscopic device comprising a rotative top having a hub, and a disk carrying a friction-ring, adapted to be placed loosely around the hub and to be driven at varying speeds and angles by frictional Contact therewith.

4. A kaleidoscopic device comprising a rotative top, a disk having a design upon the face thereof and adapted to be applied loosely to the top, and a friction device attached to the disk whereby the disk may be driven at varying speeds and angles by varying frictional contact with the top.

5. A kaleidoscopic device comprising a rotative top, having a tapered hub, a support, as k, disposed around the hub and a disk having a central opening surrounded by a friction-ring, adapted to be placed loosely over or around the hub above the support.

6. A kaleidoscopic device comprising a rotative top having a tapered hub, a support, as la, disposed around the hub, and a disk having a design upon its surface and a central opening surrounded by a friction-ring, and adapted to be placed loosely over or around the hub above the support.

7. A disk of light, flexible material adapted to be used in the manner herein described and having a central opening surrounded by a friction-ring.

8. A disk of light iiexible material adapted to be used in the manner herein described and having a central opening surrounded by a rubber friction-ring.

9. A disk having a design upon its face, adapted to be used in the manner herein described and having a central opening surrounded by a rubber friction-ring.

l0. A kaleidoscopic device comprising a rotative top having a central vertical rotative part and a disk loosely fitting over such central rotative part and adapted to be at will driven thereby at varying speeds and angles.

1l. A kaleidoscopic device comprising a rotative top having a central vertical rotative part and a disk having a design upon its face, and a friction-ring loosely fitting over such central rotative part, and adapted to be at will driven thereby, at varying speeds and angles.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto suhscribed my name.

GEORGE A. WHEELER.

Vitnesses:

EDWARD C. DAVIDSON, E. A. BALLOCH. 

